Ralf Schumacher scolds Max Verstappen for 'dangerous' Nurburgring appearance

Six-time F1 grand prix winner Ralf Schumacher has questioned Max Verstappen's decision to have a test outing at the Nurburgring last week.

Verstappen jumped behind the wheel of a Ferrari GT3 car under the pseudonym Franz Hermann and drove the Nordschleife section of the historic track.

The outing came just days after the Miami Grand Prix and the birth of his first daughter, Lily.

Former F1 driver Timo Glock was full of praise for the Dutchman after the outing - but compatriot Schumacher was less impressed.

“If I had been the team principal, I'd have asked Verstappen if he's still all there,” Schumacher told Backstage Boxengasse.

“To do something like that on the Nordschleife of all places is not very smart.

“I know, for many it's a viewpoint they don't want to hear, but I find the Nordschleife incredibly dangerous. That's just the way it is, especially at this level and at these speeds.”

Verstappen also reportedly set a 7min 53sec lap time - however there is no official record to verify this.

While Glock claimed the paddock was highly impressed by Verstappen's display, Schumacher highlighted how quickly things could have gone wrong for the four-time F1 champion.

“I then think back to when DTM races were banned here because those cars were going too fast, but today's GT3 cars are also insanely fast and everything happens neck-and-neck,” Schumacher added.

“Something happens faster than you think. Doing this somewhere else, okay, but for most people the Nordschleife still represents the biggest challenge.”